Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3390 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where the mild Autumn continues but probably not for much longer. However, no negative temperatures in this week’s version of the 14 day forecast.
Two weeks ago, in response to stanXYZ, I stated that I would explain why a reversal can work better than a three letter anagram that probably involves moving only one letter. Some time ago, possibly pre-Covid, there was a two element clue for SANGRIA. The first element was based on a synonym of SANG and the second was indicated as an anagram of AIR which, in my opinion and although it involves moving two letters, would have been better clued as a reversal.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada about the friendliest he gets. Four long ‘uns, six anagrams (four partials), one lurker, and one homophone, all in a symmetric not great value for money 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3390 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31365
Hints and Tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty 2.5* – Enjoyment 4.5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, on Tuesday, I carried out my civic duty of (advanced) voting in this month’s municipal elections. Interestingly, at the municipal council level in Manitoba there are no political parties. While the political ‘leanings’ of candidates may be known, every council is an essentially non-partisan ‘committee’ with the mayor, as chair of the committee, being elected ‘municipality wide.’
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), not a Dream Team Thursday, Silvanus was on Toughie duty yesterday and it is Kcit’s turn today. But, there is no doubt that this is the very entertaining work of the Master of Brevity. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and an appearance from the Queen, no sign of Ray T’s swEetheart, but there is a plain sweetheart in the back pager. Nothing to excite the latent third formers among us. Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
Continue reading “DT 31365”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3389 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where the word FR*ST is beginning to appear in weather forecasts and reports!
For me, and I stress for me,© same as last week, Dada very friendly once I had cracked two or three clues. Four long ‘uns, six anagrams (two partials), one lurker, and two homophones, all in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3389 (Hints)”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3388 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where Mother Nature has been giving us some welcome gentle rain.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada very friendly once I had cracked two or three clues. Six anagrams (two partials), one lurker (not hinted, you are on your own), and one homophone, all in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3388 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31353
Hints and Tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty 2* – Enjoyment 4.5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, with the start of Autumn, we are being told that a powerful ‘super’ El Niño is underway in the Pacific Ocean developing faster than any previous El Niño on record. So, in Manitoba, and the other Western Provinces, we can expect a milder, warmer Autumn and Winter with less snow and drier conditions both of which do not bode well for next year’s wildfire season.
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), not a Dream Team Thursday, Potoroo is on Toughie duty. But, there is no doubt that this is the very entertaining work of the Master of Brevity. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and two appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, but not a plain sweetheart in the back pager. Nothing to excite the latent third formers among us. Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
Continue reading “DT 31353”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3387 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Manitoba where, like a number of other Provinces, the practice of Springing Forward and Falling Back is coming to an end. We Sprang Forward in March but it was announced on Thursday that we are not Falling Back in November so, until it changes again at some indeterminate time in the future, our time pieces will show Central Daylight Time, which is the same as Eastern Standard Time, year round. I expect that it will get a more appropriate name. I’m getting too old for all this malarkey!
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada sort of friendly but some lateral thinking required. Seven anagrams (six partials), two lurkers (neither hinted, you are on your own), and one homophone, all in an asymmetric 29 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3387 (Hints)”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3386 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where today accounts for the third blogging milestone I began talking about at the end of June – this is my 500th Sunday blog, not counting the first Sunday Toughie – 93 puzzles by Virgilius (Brian Greer) and 407 by Dada (John Halpern).
You may not have received a blog notification e-mail this morning; that would be because of an aberration between me and my laptop on Friday evening (UK time). We have spoken to each other and we promise that it will not happen again, at least not until the next time 
For me, and I stress for me,© after a slow start, Dada quite friendly. Five anagrams (three partials), one lurker, and two homophones (in successive clues, neither of them hinted!), all in a symmetric 30 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3386 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31341
Hints and Tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty 2* – Enjoyment 4.5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where Autumn is beginning to be in the air!
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), not a Dream Team Thursday, Kcit is on Toughie duty. But, there is no doubt that this is the very entertaining work of the Master of Brevity. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and an appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, and the plain sweetheart in the back pager. Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
Continue reading “DT 31341”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3385 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where Summer is desperately trying to hang on for a while longer although we have had at least one foggy morning typical of late October/early November.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada very quirky although I have to admit that my spelling and writing skills left a little to be desired. Seven anagrams (three partials), one lurker, and one homophone, all in a slightly asymmetric 30 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3385 (Hints)”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3384 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where we are back into the high 20s feels like mid 30s for a few days.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada quirky as usual, reasonably friendly, with four long uns, only one of them an anagram, a meagre four anagrams in total (two partials), two lurkers, and no homophones, all in a not much value for the money symmetric 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3384 (Hints)”
